Restaurant Reviews in Courchevel — 15 of Our Favourites

Like many of the local restaurants it serves a mix of Savoyard specialties as well as pizzas, steaks and pasta. What makes this place stand out from the crowd though is the service. Pascal and his team are a really friendly bunch and unlike other restaurants if you order in French and are clearly trying your best they will reply in French rather than converting back to English.

The food at the Petit Savoyard has always been good but this year they have noticeably stepped up their game. Last week, seven of us arrived promptly at seven for the early sitting. As with many of the restaurants around, they do two sittings for dinner, to maximise custom in a business that only operates five months of the year. One friend was slightly delayed but rather than rush us to turn the table they welcomed us happily and awaited our friend’s arrival.

Between us we ordered a good mix of steaks, salads and pizza and were certainly not disappointed. The steaks were ginormous and really juicy, with very little gristle. The pizza had a nice thin base, cooked to perfection in their wood burning oven. I cannot comment on the tartare as I'm not a fan of raw meat or raw egg, but it didn't last long which is always a good sign.

With a little room left we decided to treat ourselves to dessert. The Cafe Gourmand (an espresso served with three mini desserts) was a popular choice and came with panacotta, an apple tart and a chocolate mousse. The winner in my book though was the chocolate fondant pudding which was gooey and served with a delicious crème anglaise as well as ice cream. This was all washed down with several carafes of house wine, which was reasonable and palatable and some complimentary genepy to finish.

At little over €35 for two courses with wine it won’t break the bank and you’ll find something for everyone with a varied menu of good quality meals.

The business started off as mainly a farm restaurant opening in the summer months and a couple of years ago, much to many skiers delight, opened their doors for the Winter months too.

Previously the restaurant could only be accessed during the day either by car, on foot or via off piste when conditions allowed. This season however a new piste has been created “La Chasse” which has had a delayed opening due to weather conditions but this week is now ouvert!

If you are arriving from Courchevel or Meribel you will need to take the ‘Cote Brune’ lift followed by the piste ‘Mont de la Chambre’ then ‘Plan du Bouquet’ and then onto ‘La Chasse’. From Val Thorens just take the ‘Plein Sud’ lift then onto the ‘Pluviometre’ piste, followed by ‘Boulevard des Escahuds’ and then ‘La Chasse’ and voila, you will arrive.

The restaurant at nighttime provides a real mountain experience as you need to walk up in the dark but don’t let that put you off, it’s all part of the evening. The car park is easily located and afterwards there is a snowy track leading up to the restaurant with torches to light the way. It only takes around five minutes to walk and afterwards you see the welcome sight of a warmly lit restaurant ready to welcome you in.

The restaurant has been expanded in the past year and there are two sections to the recently refurbished building, the cave and La Laiterie. The décor is really nicely done with lovely touches throughout to create a modern mountain refuge. There is everything from milk bottle light fixtures to hay bale seating and cushions. There was a large group booked into the main part of the restaurant the evening we arrived and so we sat in La Laiterie which was bright and had large windows to watch the blizzard whirling outside, as we sipped our vin rouge and tucked into fondue!

The staff are really friendly offering recommendations from the menu for food and beverages. We started with the house kir which went down very nicely indeed. The menu itself is quite limited with a few starter options along with some main platters to choose from. Our group all opted for platters and the tomme de savoie option included a quarter of a lump of cheese! Luckily they were very accommodating with an amazing grasp of English offering to wrap up our platter leftovers in a ‘doggy bag’ to take home to enjoy the next day.

Having sampled the homemade terrine for starter which was nicely accompanied with fruit bread, (although we could have done with a little bit more for the size of the potion), I followed this with the Beaufort fondue which was certainly not lacking in bread and yumminess. The rest of the group had steak and the pot au feu which might not have been to everyone’s tastes with marrow bone sticking out, but our French foodie was pretty happy with his choice. The main courses are all priced around 20 euros + and for four people dining for two courses with wine it worked out at around 50 euros per person which is pretty reasonable for a meal in Belleville.

There was no pressure to leave the table at the end of the meal and when we were ready to head home we were presented with a flame-lit torch to help us find out way back down the snowy path to the car, a real adventure!

Chez Pepe is a family business and they also have restaurants further down the valley in St Martin de Belleville, Jardin Josephine and Le Montegnard. Each restaurant with their own unique style and whilst each offers a similar menu with local dishes each one is individual.

Wine bars are very popular in France and this one is a must if you are visiting Courchevel. It’s perfect for an après ski glass of wine or an evening of wine tasting and sampling a lovely Savoyard platter.

Nestled in the main square of Moutiers the restaurant could be a great stop on your way up or down the valley and gives a chance to soak up some non-ski resort flavours.
Stopping in on the 3 star hotel overnight during interseason, we spotted the restaurant and were immediately tempted to check out the menu.
The menu is not overwhelmed with choice, which can be a blessing, and with a long day behind us we made the easy choice of a rumpsteak served with a soupçon of ratatouille and home-cut fries, along with a 'Manu' special Ligure pizza - the pizza was topped with home-made pistou and tangy parmesan.
Served with a few pichets of red wine by the friendly, chirpy staff we soon felt like we could happily return to this restaurant.
Desset du jour was a homemade, coconut infused, tart which was the perfect way to finish off a great meal in a great restaurant.

The manageress and waitress are friendly and warm and the food is just spectacular. They do a variety of different priced set menus and starting at €30 they’re really good value.

We opted for the slightly higher €41 menu as well as a few dishes off the à la carte choices. This included an amuse bouche of chestnut cappuccino, a velouté with a delicious creamy foam on top. My partner, who chose the menu, then had some deliciously poached oysters served with a cauliflower broth, confit leeks and crispy bacon, whilst I tucked into the amazing home-baked rolls.

For main course I had the most tender braised pork cheek in a red wine jus with pureed parsnips and gratin potatoes. Whilst he enjoyed a perfectly pink duckling breast in pan juices with roasted turnip and polenta. Next came the fourth course from his menu, the cheese course. As they wheeled over a trolley with an impressive array of hard and soft cheeses we instantly regretted devouring a mountain of bread. The French really know how to do cheeses, with local specialities such as Beaufort leaving their mark.

Despite feeling satisfyingly full we still eagerly awaited our desserts. Mine was the highlight of the meal for me and one of the best desserts I’ve ever eaten. A beautiful apple layered dish with confit apple between sugar discs atop of each other with apple rice pudding and a caramel sauce – heaven in a bowl. It took all my reserve not to lick my bowl clean there and then.

My partner finished with a beautifully goey chocolate fondant pudding with vanilla and bourbon ice-cream. We’d eaten like kings and been treated like royalty and all for less than €100, including a half bottle of Sancerre. The bill arrived with petit fours, as if we hadn’t eaten enough, but a lovely touch all the same.

This place really is a hidden gem and is perfect for a romantic meal for two or a cosy dinner with friends, so make it a priority on your next visit.

La Fruitiѐre is a large restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating which is located past the main bar area. I ordered the Beaufort cheese pie which was classed as a starter but it was a large portion, definitely enough for lunch. It came with a dressed green salad and fresh wholemeal bread. It was truly delicious. They use local cheese that is matured in their specially designed cellar stores. The starter cost 18 euros and a glass of large beer was 9 euros which I thought was good value for the quantity, quality and the location. The outdoor seating area wasn’t busy when we were dining there but the waiting staff were still attentive, enthusiastic and friendly.

The restaurant has a certain style that portrays elegance in an unpretentious way. The décor is stylish with white enamel milk churns decorating the indoor restaurant, exposed zinc pipework, beautiful tiling and dairy style fittings and furnishings. Whilst still looking modern, it creates a special atmosphere with a pleasant ambience. The outdoor section of the restaurant has simpler décor with the stunning mountain views being the natural artwork.

The outdoor seating area is set up for around 150 covers and can accommodate large groups of skiers. The tables are laid ready for walk ins or pre-booking is available over the phone (+33 479 005 831) or by sending them an enquiry message. The time slots are 12.30pm or 2pm.

All kinds of people visit this restaurant as it is easily accessible for skiers and snowboarders as it is ski in/ski out, plus pedestrians also have easy access from both Meribel and Courchevel gondolas. If you chose to join the party from 2.30pm, the DJ lets you know when pedestrians need to leave to return Courchevel so you don’t get stranded in Meribel.

La Fruitiѐre is a special dining experience due to the variation of enjoying an elegant dining experience whilst being in a happy, party atmosphere. What sets this restaurant apart is if you eat from 2.30pm, you can watch the live show right from your table. There is a huge stage that separates the restaurant area from the bar section and performers dance and sing right in front of you. If you fancy a quieter, more relaxing lunch, then I recommend arriving earlier.

I will definitely visit this restaurant again. The food is really tasty and the scenery surrounding the restaurant is breath-taking. It makes you feel like you’re on top of the world.

Folie Douce is open from 9am-5pm every day, during the Winter ski season only. There are five dotted around the French Alps putting on an excellent show with entertainment with dancers, singers, DJs and a live guitarist.

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Located on the run down towards town and the ‘Access Pistes’ elevator (ski past the Rond Point and stay right, keep an eye out for the blue umbrellas), the Helios serves a simple lunch menu of sweet and savoury Crepes. I popped in today to check it out.

I arrived at the restaurant having not booked a table and was told that there would be an hour-long wait. While the impending wait was long, I took the popularity as a good sign and took a seat outside to watch the skiers whizzing past on the steep slope beside the terrace. To my delight, upon sitting down I noticed that my whole body began to feel warm, which was very strange for such a cold day. It turned out that the table I was sitting at doubled up as a wood burning stove designed to keep people, food and drink toasty and warm. I ordered a hot chocolate with cream and enjoyed the heat.

After 40 minutes a table became free. I was invited inside by a young English waiter who bore a striking resemblance to Neil Patrick-Harris (it’s all about the details). The lunchtime crepe menu is very affordable so I was surprised to be led into a fancy looking room filled with large wooden tables surrounded by plush chairs – certainly not your typical creperie.

The lunchtime menu consists of a few salads, several classic savoury pancakes or ‘galettes’, Savoyard galettes and the amusingly translated ‘from elsewhere galettes’. There are also several sweet crepe options for dessert.

I decided to go for the ‘Formula’ that consists of any one Galette, any one Crepe for dessert and a glass of cider (a lovely touch I must say) all for a very reasonable €17.

I opted for the ‘Tartiflette galette’. I’ve not had many savoury crepes before and certainly not one filled with tartiflette. It was superb, with creamy sauce, salty lardons and thinly sliced potatoes all covered in delicious melted reblochon cheese – a great choice.

For dessert I went for the Apple with Salted Caramel Sauce crepe - another great choice. Filled with soft, piping-hot apple slices and generously covered in salted caramel, it didn’t disappoint.

What I really loved about lunch at the Helios was that they have a small, well thought out menu, which means they can concentrate on cooking it really really well – and that is exactly what they did.

As you arrive into Courchevel Moriond from the piste, it appears that there are only a few hotel restaurants to choose from, however if you head to the passageway on the right, it leads on to a side road called ‘Rue de Marquis’. There are many restaurants dotted along this road with a range of cuisines to choose from. I was attracted to l’Arc en Ciel restaurant as it had a large outdoor seating area which was perfect for catching the sun’s rays and it also had a great menu to choose from.

The restaurant is ideal for a relaxed dining experience. It is a great for large group bookings yet cosy enough for a romantic dinner for two. My favourite dish from here is the Savoyard speciality raclette.

It is unique among 3 Valley restaurants for two reasons; it’s a genuine traditional shepherd’s chalet and it is located nowhere near a piste. The out-of-the-way location is both a drawback and its main appeal as a place found only by those in the know.

Having rung the owner for directions, we set out into the unknown feeling highly intrepid. Leaving the Montaulever piste in Les Menuires, we traversed off-piste for a good five minutes, taking our skis off to cross the main road, before the chalet finally came into view. The setting is charming with views over the whole valley and we were greeted by an adorable St Bernard puppy called Happy. The restaurant is small and cosy, the interior prettily decorated with old Savoy photos and items, with hand-written sayings dotted about the walls.

It is tiny, with only five tables indoors and a larger outdoor dining terrace. Eric, the owner, couldn’t have been friendlier. He explained that the chalet was built in the 1870s as a ‘montagnette’, a shepherd’s summer home and has been in his family for generations. He named the place after his grandfather Nicolas, who used the chalet to look after his cows and goats and to make local Tomme cheese. He introduced us to his team and taught us a few Savoy dialect words and generally made us feel as if we were his honoured guests.

The food is local, traditional and made with ingredients sourced in the valley. Savoy cuisine is hearty, unpretentious and simple, so after our tartiflettes, duck with tagliatelle and pork with pasta, we were all too full to sample the tempting-looking cheeses or desserts. Eric’s home-made genepi was all we could manage instead, and this gave us courage for a slightly wobbly descent back onto the Boulevard Cumin piste below.

If you fancy an authentic Savoy lunch (or dinner) then it’s worth making an effort to find this place. The best way to find it is to take a guide or, if you are confident finding your way off-piste, then ask Eric for directions. If you really don’t want to ski off-piste, then you can get to it instead by walking uphill for ten minutes from the Boulevard Cumin. Remember to book – tel 06.09.45.28.35. You may well find me there, snuggled up in one of the sheepskins-lined chairs on the terrace, enjoying an afternoon away from it all…

How to get there:

• By car: A43 freeway to Albertville. Exit at Albertville, take the road to Moutiers (26km) then exit n°40 towards Belleville Valley. Then after Les Menuires and the third hairpin is Chez Pépé Nicolas. Parking nearby.
• By shuttle: Departing from the bus station of the resort, free shuttle every 20 minutes.
• By ski: In case of good snow conditions, access to the restaurant is done off-piste skiing (for good skiers). On Mont de la Chambre area, from the trail Plan du bouquet. Reminder: Off-piste skiing requires special skills or appropriate supervision ...

The aptly named Dou du Midi is a bistro restaurant that serves lunches such as soups, snacks and desserts. There is also a cosy bar that has exquisite cocktails as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks on its menu. Their evening restaurant, Le 1850 Be Organic, has been awarded one plate and three red forks by the Michelin guide. This special restaurant is where I dined.